Good Job, Bad Boss

You finally landed that job you’ve been trying to get for months! It’s such a good feeling, isn’t it? You completed that long online application. Took the assessment (do I choose agree or some-what agree? Hmm..) and delivered your best presentation during the many rounds of interviews – you made it! Congratulations!

And then, you meet your boss. (womp-womp)

I’ve been there. Lord, have I been there! There’s something torturous about loving your job and loathing your employer. It makes getting up in the morning that much more difficult. You can lose your drive to complete tasks and your morale might suffer. And, if your boss is not only difficult, but also a bully – you might be tempted to throw in the towel!

Unfortunately, everyone isn’t in the position to just quit and find new employment. And, you may need to stay on this job in order to gain the necessary experience to move to the next position. Whatever your reasoning for staying – here’s a little encouragement that I wish I had when I was in this position.

Motivation

Nothing sucks harder than getting up before the sun just to be miserable for the next 8+ hours. I can remember trying my hardest to find a tickle in my throat just so I had an excuse to use a sick day. As much as you can, try not to let your entire work experience revolve around one person. Remember your goal and your career aspirations. It also helps to think about the life experiences and relationships you’ll gain. Find someone that you get along with. It’ll help your day go by faster and it’s nice to hear some encouraging words from someone who understands your struggle.

Focus

Keep your eyes on the prize! Not only are you getting a pay check, you’re also gaining valuable experience for your next role. Make a daily list of goals you want to achieve and focus on doing just that. While at your desk, get in the zone! If you have the kind of boss that nit-picks at every-little-thing (I rolled my eyes for extra emphasis), try to take the criticism with a grain (or a gallon) of salt and remind yourself this is not a permanent situation! Eventually, you will move on and this experience will be behind you. Trust me, it might feel like you’re on a never-ending ride from the underworld, but if you stay focused, you will move on!

Mood

Stay positive. Don’t let your crazy out! Remember: You came to do a job – not be the class favorite (unless you actually came for that, then – I got nothin’). Establish in your heart that no one has the power to change your mood. Don’t give in to someone else’s misery. If you need an extra boost, read my blogs about Joy and handling conflict. Don’t allow a temporary situation to make a permanent impact on your career.

Story time: I once had a bad boss. I’ve had more than one, but this story is about just one of them. Anyway, my boss was really a handful and had a reputation to boot! I decided to be Little Miss Sunshine despite the constant negative atmosphere I worked in. There were countless times when I would take a break and call my husband to cry and vent, “I’m just going to quit, I can’t handle it anymore!” (Disclaimer: Don’t feel sorry for him. He was fully aware of my high propensity for drama before he proposed). Then, I would go inside and fake smile my way through the rest of the day. You know what happened? Her mood changed. Not entirely, but enough for me to notice. Heck, other people noticed too! Moral of the story: Consistency is effective! I’m not saying everything will turn into sunshine and rainbows because it might not! (I have a story for that too!) but, it could. If we spend too much time looking at the situation and not the possibilities, we will lose sight of our goals.

Decompress

After a long, stressful day with emotional highs and lows, it’s so important to decompress! We know that stress does so much to our mind and body, don’t carry that around! There’s only a few hours before you’ve got to do it all over again (sorry for that reminder) so find a way to strip off the extra baggage and allow yourself to relax! You can read my blog on how to maximize your quiet time here.

I was once taught this aphorism by someone dear to me: God doesn’t waste anything. Regardless if He put us there or if we got ourselves into a situation, if you turn it over to Him, He can use it for our good! (Romans 8:28). Don’t be discouraged by your current situation. Pray for strength every day and be determined to press on.

You can do it, I believe in you!

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Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised

Hebrews 10:36

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Cute deliveries my honey would send to cheer me up!